Last weekend, my husband and I went to a play, and long story short, the authors of the book that inspired the play, revealed via an article in the play bill that they wrote the Times best seller by collaborating online. They ping-ponged back and forth, adding chapters, editing, revising, debating things that mermaids would "really say." It got me thinking about the importance of #1- opportunities for free writing #2- opportunities to partner write, and #3- technology- it allows us to over come hurdles like miles of separation.
Naturally, I told my class about my thoughts, and they whole-heartedly agreed. Experienced bloggers by now (we have a book blog students use to blog about their independent reading books, and this is rigid, with very specific expectations) they were eager to begin another one, and thrilled that I would be giving them full control. I asked them what they wanted it to be like, what they wanted to post on it, and I capped it off by telling them: It's not a requirement, I won't grade it, and they can write whatever they want (school appropriate!).
DAY 1-Following our discussion and the creation of the book blog "rules," I sent them off to partner write while I sat at my computer and immediately threw together a new blog and added it to my website. 10 minutes later, it was up and running. I showed the kids how it worked, showed them how to get on from our class website, and that was it. That night, 5 kids posted stories to blog, covering topics from Incredible Me minions, a Harry Potter spin-off from a girl's point of view, and a story about pie people.
DAY 2- I showed the kids the blog again, and took them all to the computer lab to try it out. I was impressed at how my "comic book" writers (my boys who typically "draw" their stories like Diary of a Wimpy Kid) were able to transfer their ideas into words, and Diary of a Wimpy COW was born! Many kids (10) posted that day in school, because I had given them time in class. Others simply left comments and helped to "build on" to stories. I e-mailed several teachers in our building asking them to leave comments, and did't tell the kids.
DAY 3- Today we didn't have writing time due to an assembly (my principal made an announcement appreciating my class for their work on the blog, did I mention it's only day 3?). Any posts on this day were done in the kids free time (indoor recess, waiting for buses to be called, after morning work, after school, etc). My kids discovered that our reading interventionist, and principal left comments on their stories (I tried to act surprised, how on earth did that happen?) 17 kids posted stories today, out of my 24.
DAY 4- This is a Saturday, today, a non-school day, and I've had 4 kids who posted new stories today, and 6 posted comments. We also had our first international visitor today, from Mumbai, India! Three parents left comments today! I am shocked that kids are using their weekend time to write, and thrilled! To date, 22 posts were made by girls, 17 by boys. Girls are using the blog more, I have 11 girls and 13 boys, so ideally, I'd like those numbers to be flipped, but hey, they're writing! I'm also impressed that one of my choice students from the city has been on this weekend and made some posts.
We studied Malala Yousafzai this week and began to state an opinion and back it up with details. Many of my students started posting about what they believe, everything from educational equality and whether or not cell phones should be allowed in schools. How neat to see them advocating for something they believe in!
I can't wait to see how this blog continues to evolve! Check it out here: http://kidblog.org/WRITINGBLOG-7/
Naturally, I told my class about my thoughts, and they whole-heartedly agreed. Experienced bloggers by now (we have a book blog students use to blog about their independent reading books, and this is rigid, with very specific expectations) they were eager to begin another one, and thrilled that I would be giving them full control. I asked them what they wanted it to be like, what they wanted to post on it, and I capped it off by telling them: It's not a requirement, I won't grade it, and they can write whatever they want (school appropriate!).
DAY 1-Following our discussion and the creation of the book blog "rules," I sent them off to partner write while I sat at my computer and immediately threw together a new blog and added it to my website. 10 minutes later, it was up and running. I showed the kids how it worked, showed them how to get on from our class website, and that was it. That night, 5 kids posted stories to blog, covering topics from Incredible Me minions, a Harry Potter spin-off from a girl's point of view, and a story about pie people.
DAY 2- I showed the kids the blog again, and took them all to the computer lab to try it out. I was impressed at how my "comic book" writers (my boys who typically "draw" their stories like Diary of a Wimpy Kid) were able to transfer their ideas into words, and Diary of a Wimpy COW was born! Many kids (10) posted that day in school, because I had given them time in class. Others simply left comments and helped to "build on" to stories. I e-mailed several teachers in our building asking them to leave comments, and did't tell the kids.
DAY 3- Today we didn't have writing time due to an assembly (my principal made an announcement appreciating my class for their work on the blog, did I mention it's only day 3?). Any posts on this day were done in the kids free time (indoor recess, waiting for buses to be called, after morning work, after school, etc). My kids discovered that our reading interventionist, and principal left comments on their stories (I tried to act surprised, how on earth did that happen?) 17 kids posted stories today, out of my 24.
DAY 4- This is a Saturday, today, a non-school day, and I've had 4 kids who posted new stories today, and 6 posted comments. We also had our first international visitor today, from Mumbai, India! Three parents left comments today! I am shocked that kids are using their weekend time to write, and thrilled! To date, 22 posts were made by girls, 17 by boys. Girls are using the blog more, I have 11 girls and 13 boys, so ideally, I'd like those numbers to be flipped, but hey, they're writing! I'm also impressed that one of my choice students from the city has been on this weekend and made some posts.
We studied Malala Yousafzai this week and began to state an opinion and back it up with details. Many of my students started posting about what they believe, everything from educational equality and whether or not cell phones should be allowed in schools. How neat to see them advocating for something they believe in!
I can't wait to see how this blog continues to evolve! Check it out here: http://kidblog.org/WRITINGBLOG-7/
Christal…I love that you've taken this project to your classroom at your kids are totally on board. Their blogs are hilarious and super creative. It's interesting that the girls blog more than the boys. I feel like that's a common theme in classrooms that blog. I wonder what the psychology is behind it.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have been in your class last week to study about Malala Yousafzai. What an amazing story of courage and overcoming adversity. How did your kids react to her story? I imagine you had to answer some tough questions.
Anyway, awesome work! See you in class -
Tom